Who gives the best opportunity to fly?

[RUNNINHORN]

Im stuck between the AF and Navy, and cannot make up my mind which I want to go into to try and become a pilot. Can anyone offer any suggestions? Any info would be appreciated..........

 

[negativebalance]

three words
Air National Guard
but patience is a must

 

[RUNNINHORN]

hmmm, never thought of them--what is the % of getting into the Air Guard and getting the chance to get my wings? Where can I get more info on the guard?
Thanks!

 

[negativebalance]

Each wing has their own basic requirements but you basically just need a minimum of a private pilot's, a degree or close to it, previous military experience helps, and be in descent shape.
You also need to take 2 tests- AFOQT.....like an sat....and the BATS..this hand eye cordination type test. Look up wings on the guard website...www.goang.com.....and the recruiter will let you know when their next hiring board is. They hire a year in advance so if you have to move somewhere you need to get a job on your own.

 

[RUNNINHORN]

what is decent shape? So i have to have my private to even be considered? thanks.......

 

[RUNNINHORN]

I just went to that site, and found some job openings out at Port Hueneme, Ca. What do I need to do to try and get one of those jobs? Just join the air guard? Guess ill go call my recruiter now......

 

[negativebalance]

I meant as far as no worse than 20/70 vision, within weight standards and a decent cholesterol level......mine was high until I lowered it.

As far as flight experience some wings won't even ask you to interview if you don't have a pilot's license. Most Wings will get 50-100 applications to fill 1 to 4 slots....some get eliminated because the applications were incomplete or because they live to far or whatever. But when you get there and they're interviewing you they like to look at at you and say to themselves "Can I fly a long trip and then get a beer with this guy?"
Wings vary but this is the genral idea. They hire on personality once you've met they're minimum standards.

A license isn't required but it increases your chances dramaticlly.

 

[RUNNINHORN]

Ok, I just emailed the 146th air wing where id like to be to get more info. So you say it will take a while to get in? Does the air guard pay anything? What are some of the critical fields they speak of that having signing bonuses? Thanks for the info.........

 

[negativebalance]

Well the Air Guard is great for a guy who wants to fly AF and consider the airlines or corporate. When you get winged you can
a) Go full time guard if its available
B) guard bum...fly as often as you can get on the schedule
c) just be a regular...fly to stay current

 

[negativebalance]

the signing bonuses are for enlistsments

 

[RUNNINHORN]

the signing bonuses are for enlistsments

Oh, so you can go fulltime guard, and then part time too? What $$$ do the part-timers make, if any?

 

[bssthound]

First of all, I'm bound to forget something. The great thing about this board is plenty of people will point out things I missed and you'll end up with a really good picture of what's goin' on.

Don't rule out the Air Force Reserve (AFRES), either. It's pretty much the same thing as the Guard except the Reserve is Federal and the Guard is state. Don't worry about the differences just yet, it's not important at this stage of the game.

I've been in both the Guard and Reserve for 17+ years, now. It is definitely worth investing your time in.

At Fort Worth NAS, formerly Carswell AFB, there is the Air Guard C-130 wing and AFRES F-16 wing. Look in your phone book for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. In addition to the previously mentioned goang.com site try www.afrc.af.mil

Yes, the Guard and Reserve pay. There is no difference in pay rates between the two. The pay is exactly what you'd make as an Active Duty member at your rank/time in service but prorated daily. The "drill" pay for each month's weekend is figured a little differently. It is base pay plus flight pay times two for each of the days. In other words you get four days pay for two days. It doesn't figure in any of the housing or subsistence allowances you'd get with Active Duty pay. Also, fliers get "Additional Flying Training Periods," also known as "AFTPs" or simply "TPs." These pay the same as your drill pay. A member can also get active duty days through the unit for deployments or projects at the base. As a newbie, back from training you'll get some "seasoning days." Those are active duty days so that you're around full-time and can be brought up to speed in the aircraft/mission. The number of days depends on the aircraft/mission. Oh, and you get a retirement, too. It's based solely on the number of days you worked. Those days count as "points" and are prorated against an active duty retirement as a percentage. 20 years of active duty @ 365 days a year is 7300 points. If you retired with 3,650 points (nice easy number) you'd get 1/2 the retirement an active duty person at your rank would draw. You don't start drawing it until age 60 but it beats a poke in the butt with a sharp stick.

I know that's a lot of info for right now. Believe me, it's worth it. The money's good and almost all of the part-time pilots fly for the airlines, so you'll have all sorts of connections, if that's what you want to do. By the time you're ready to apply the current state of affairs in the airline world might be finally over.

Best of luck. Be patient and if it's really what you want to do DON'T give up. Woody Allen said 90% of success is showing up. If you really want it just keep showing up. It'll happen for you.

Garland, TX

 

[RUNNINHORN]

Thanks bassett for the info, Ill email them right now. How hard is it to get into? What is the difference between the Air Guard and Air Force Reserves exactly? What kind of pay would I make going in? Would I have to go to basic training? Thanks again for the info.......how many months would it take to actually get in and become active?

 

[bssthound]

How hard is it to get into?

It's not easy. There are a lot of quality, motivated people vying for very few slots. Those slots don't have anyone's name branded on them, though, so throw your hat in the ring.

What is the difference between the Air Guard and Air Force Reserves exactly?

The Guard falls under the state and the Reserve is Federal. To the average crewdog there's no difference. The Guard is just as active as the Reserve in "Federal matters." Witness all the stuff in the middle east.

What kind of pay would I make going in?

I'm not certain what a 2nd lieutenant is making these days. I'm sure more than one board member knows exactly and will let you know. In the meantime, I'll try to find a pay chart. While you're in training you're on Active Duty and get paid the same amount as your Active Duty contemporaries.

Would I have to go to basic training?

If you enlist prior to going to Officer's Training School, yes. Just about every Guard and Reserve unit gives first shot at the enlisted guys in its unit. They not only have shown they want to be there, they're a known quantity. If a guy is a slug the word will get out pretty quick.

Folks are taken "off the street," though. We've had a few that came in, got slots, and did very well.

how many months would it take to actually get in and become active?

That really depends on the particular circumstance. We sent a guy a year or two ago who was released from OTS. His alternate was sent up there on a moment's notice. No two cases are never the same, you never know how long it will take.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

Go to these threads

These threads have lots of the questions you've asked

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17082

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showth...;threadid=17082

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showth...;threadid=17067

 

[RUNNINHORN]

thanks for the one thread, but the other 2 arent working?!?!

 

[RUNNINHORN]

if i go into the air guard or af reserves, and my current employer says I have to work on Saturdays, can the govt or state make them change my schedule?

 

[bssthound]

By law your employer must allow you time off for Guard/Reserves. He doesn't have to pay you, of course.

For drill weekends a letter from your scheduler, commander, or supervisor should suffice. For any active duty days you're doing a copy of the orders is usually required.

 

[Slye]

By law your employer must allow you time off for Guard/Reserves. He doesn't have to pay you, of course.

For drill weekends a letter from your scheduler, commander, or supervisor should suffice. For any active duty days you're doing a copy of the orders is usually required.

What if you currently have a civilian job and then join the guard? Would your employer have to give you time off for AMS and things like that or does that only apply if the civilian company hires you after you're already in the guard? Thanks!

 

[bssthound]

What if you currently have a civilian job and then join the guard? Would your employer have to give you time off for AMS and things like that?

Yes, the employer would.